Apparatus for forming concrete fence-posts.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 l l (iw.

E FENCE POSTS. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 7, 1908. I Patented June 15, 1909.

J. W. MILLAM APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONGRET yUur-rnb srafrns '.rarnnrr ernten.

.Janes w, MrLLAM, or sr. Louis, MISSOURI, Assrenon cross-HALF rro esonera M. .mit v f Ninos, or sfr. Louis, nrssonni. y

nmeros FonroRMrNe CONCRETE 'FENCE-rosse.

sro. genoom.,

Spcification of Letters Patent.

.-etezited June 15, 1909.

l' Application iled December 7, 19.08. Serial We. 456,32*'

' Figure 1 is a perspective view showing thevarious 'parts of my improved apparatus;

l Fig. .2 is a vertical sectional view showing A. the parts of my improved apparatus 1n operative position; Fig. 3 1s an enlarged cross sectiona viewvtaken 'approximately on the I line3'-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevationalview, partly in vertical section, of the tencepost which my-iinproved apparatus forms, theyielding clamping member which retains the fence wire connecting devices in place being shown in operative position; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view. taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 6--6 of llig. 4. This invention relates to molds for forming concrete articles, and particularly to molds for forming hollow concrete fenceposts.

The main object of my invention is to provide a, simple apparatusfor forming a round and.hollow concrete fence-post'.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, 1 designates an outer cylindrical-shaped shell that is slightly tapered, and which consists of a iece of sheet metal having its edge portion ent laterallyl to form tweparallel flanges 2that are adapted to be held in engagement with 'each other by a channel-shaped locking member 3 provided with cross pins. 4. ,451 that enter bayonet slots 5 in the flanges 2. A collapsible core 6, which is also tubular shaped and slightly tapered, is arranged-inside of the outenshell 1, and this collapsible core consists of a piece of sheet metal pro- '.59'. vided on its edges with U-sha'ped flanges 7 l that are adapted to interlock with cach other when' the core is expanded by means of a .tapered member A that is introduced into same, said member A preferably consisting of boards or pieces offwood that are connected together in such afmanner that they lform a` member which is'substantially cruciform shape in cross' section so that it will bear at four points on 'the inner surtace of the collapsible core 6. G0'.

Affunnel 8 is provided for receiving the plastic material from which the post is termed, thus causing said material to -iow down into the space between the outer shell 1 and the inner core 6, saidfunnehbeing ar- 65 ranged at the upper enlarged endsetthe outer shell 1 and core 6 after they have been assembled, as shown in Fig. 2. Theunnel 8 is provided with a depending flange 9 that lits snugly inside of the outer shell 1 so as to 7.0 prevent 1t from collapsing, and said funnel is also providedwith a ring l0 that 1s adapted to embracethe inner core 6 and prevent it from expanding, said ring 1'() lloelng arranged inside ofd the flange 9 and re- 7 5 tained i'n o lerative position by a number of Z-shaped rackets 11, as shown clearlyin Fig. 1. I 'freier to provide the ring 10 with a conical-shaped cap 12 that prevents the plastic concrete from flowing into the core 6 80 and also operates todistribute the concrete uniformly around the spacef' between the louter shell and the inner. core of the mold. The lower end of the outer shell 1 rests upon a base plate 13provided'with a ring-sha ed 85- portion 14 that embraces the lower en of the outer shell, and said baseplate is provided with an o ening through which the expanding mem er A projects when the parts of the mold are 'in operative position. 90

lThe post which my improved 'apparatus' forms, is hollovsT and slightly tapered, as 'shown in Fig. 4, and the u per andlower ends of said post are roundeld ofr' slightly-iso as to eliminate sharp corners that would be apt to break ofiL or chip. These rounded ends are produced by means of cup-shaped rings 15,' one oi which. is shown in operative position in Fig. 2, said ring being arranged upon the base plate 13 between the outer 100 shell and the inner core of the mold so as to form the upper' lend of the post. The ring that forms the base end oi the post is not shown but ishsubstantially .the same as the ring 15 :and is adapted to be arranged 1n 195 position. between the outer shell and/"inner core after the funnel 8 has been removed and then rotatedslightlyso as,y to smooth down, the concrete and 'causait to conform to the shape of the ring.

The complete post is provided with a nurnber oli-devices 16 to'whieh the fence-wires are connected, each of said devices consisting of a loop or strand of wire arranged inran openj ing 17 in the post and provi( ed at its inner end with an eye 1S thiough which a rod 19 passes, said rod passing through the Veyes of l all of the devices 16 so as to retain them in ing devices 16 are arranged,-are formed during the operation of molding the post by means of a number opins 2O carried by a bar 21 which is arranged outside of the outer the position. The holes 17 in which the fastenj their innerendsabutting against the outer vthat is adapted to be moved strengthened poured. Any

clamping inside-of the outer surface of thecollapsibleored The post is preferably reinforced and by means of a piece of woven wire 23 that is arranged between the inner core and outer shell before the concrete is suitable means can be provided for holding this reinforcing wire in position but I prefer to provide the brackets 11' on the funnel with notches 24 into which the upper edge ofthe woven wire 23 projects, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The devices 16, to whichv the fence wiresk are connected, are arranged in operative position after the post has been molded, and a clamping member 25 is provided for retaining all of the devices 16 in such a position that the rod 19 canbe p assedthrouffh the eyes 18 thereof. This clamping member 25 preferably consists of a piece yol resilient metal bent into approximately tubular loim, as shown in Fig. 6, and providedon its edges with laterally projecting flanges 26 that bear upon the inside of the post. After the devices 16 have been inserted in the holes 17 in the post and turned so` that the eyes 18 of said devices are arranged horizontally', the

member 25 is sprung over the eyes 18 so as to 'retain them in position, the rod 19 being thereafter forced downwardly through the eyes of all the devices 16. As shown in Fig. d, the clamping member 25 is provided adjacent its upper endwith a hinfredbrace 27 ownwar'dlywall of the intoengagement with the inner member in post so as to retain theclamping position.

To forni a hollow concrete fence-*post with an apparatus ol tlie construction 'above described, I first arrange the outer shell 1 in n upright position `on the base plate 13, the U- shaped clamping' member 3 being 'forced over the flanges 2 of said shell and then downwardl y so that the pins 4 lie at the lower ends of the bayonet-sha ed slots 5 in said flanges. The inner collapsible core 6 is then larranged shell, and the expanding (member is forced expanding,

laterall7 downwardly into said 7 interlock. Alfter the reinforcing wire 23 has been arrangedA between the outer shell and inner core thelunnel 8 is arranged in osition and the concrete is thereafter poured) into the funnel so that it will flow into the space between the outer shell and inner core, the bar 21, provided with the pins 20, having been previously arranged in position so that said pins will project inwardly through the outer shell, as shown in Fig. 2. After the funnel has been removed one of the cup-shaped rings 13 is used for molding the concrete so as to form the rounded base end of' the post, and after the concrete has set suflieiently the outer shell and inner collapsible core are removed. The removal of the inner shell is effected by driving the taperedexpanding member A upwardlyso that the inner core will contract and the removal of the outer shell is eii'ected by disengaging the clampingmember from theflanges 2 so asto permit saidouter shell to expan The devices 16, to which the fence wires are connected, are thereafter arranged in the holes 17 of the post and retained in position by the yielding clamping niember`25 so as to enable the rod 19 to be yinserted through the eyesof said devices, the lmember 25 being drawn out of the post after the rod l19 has been inserted.

core until the langes Having thus described my invention, what .f

I claim as new and desi-reto secure by Letters Patent is: A1. An apparatus for the comprisingatapered outer shell which conpurpose described,

sists of a piece of v'sheetmetal bent into approximately tubular shapeand provided on its longitudinal edges with laterally projecting flanges that `ress against each other, a channel-shaped c aniping'member extending longitudinally of said flanges and embracing' saine so as to prevent the outer shell from cross-arms on said channelshaped member that project into bayonetshaped slots'in said flanges` so as to retain said clamping member in position, an inner vcollapsible core arranged inside of the outer shell, means for holding said core spaced away from said shell, and' meanslor expanding said core; substantially as described.

2. comprising an ,outer yshe piece of sheet metal bent into approximately tubular shape and. provided on its edges with projecting flanges, means coperating wit said flanges for preventing thefouter shell from expanding, an inner colla sible core consisting of a piece of. sheet meta bent into approximatelytubular shape and provided on its edges with hook-shaped ilanges that interlock with each other, able expanding meinber'extending through the center of said inner core se as te expand" A n apparatus for thev 1purpose lgseribfcd, consis "i ig -o a and a removpiece of sheet metal bent into approximately tubular shape and provided on its edges with laterally projecting4 flanges that contact with each other, means co erating with said iianges for preventing t e outer shell from expanding, an inner collap ible core consisting of a piece of sheet me allbent into approximately tubular shape andprovided -on its edges with hook-shapedilanges that'interlock with each other, a removable expanding member extending through the center of said inner core so as to ex and same and thus hold said hook-shaped anges in engagement with each other, and a funnel provided with a flange that fits inside of the outer shell, a ring-sha ed portion that embracesy the upper end of t ie inner core, and a device that covers said inner core; substantiallyl as described. Y

fio

4. An apparatus for the purpose-described, comprising a tubular-shaped outer shell, a tubular-shaped collapsible shell arranged inside ot same, a wedge-shaped member arranged inside of and bearing against the inner vface of said collapsible shell throughout its entire length, a funnel arranged at the up-f per ends of said shells, a cone-sha ed member adapted to embrace and shiel the upper ends of said collapsible and Wedge-shaped members, and connected to and spaced away from said funnel by means of slitted brackets which are adapted to position a reinforcing medium in said apparatus; substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for the purpose described,

comprising a base plate, an outer shell conlsisting of a piece of sheet metal bent intoapproximately tubular shape and provided on' its longitudinal edges with laterally projecting anges having bayonet, slots formed therein, a channel-shaped clamping member adapted tc embrace said ianges and provided with cross ins that extend into said slots, an. inner col a sible core consisting o f a piece of sheet meta bent into approximately tubular shape`and provided on its edgeswith interlocking iianges, a cruciforin-shaped expanding member extending through said core, a funnel provided with a flange that iits inside of the upper end of the outer shell, a conical-shaped cap conneeted'to-sai'd funnel for fitting over the upper end of the collapsible core, and a device provided with pins that project through openings in the outer shell and butt against the outer surface oi said core; substantially as described.

G. Ana aratus for the nu'iosedescrihcd i comprising means i'oi' molding a round hollow post lroin conci-ete and loi-ming a nun.d

- ranged at piece yranged between the outer shell andinner core,

bei' of holes in said post, and a yielding',

clampin member adapted to be arranged inside o said post for temporarily holding in positionsJ plurality of wire connecting devices that are arranged in the openings in said post; substantially as described.

7. An apparatus'for the purpose described, comprising an outer shell,l an inner collapsible core arranged inside oi" same, a Wooden expanding member oi' approximately cruciform shape in cross section extending through said core, a cup-shaped ring ar` ranged inside of the outer shell at the` lower end thereof, a. funnel arranged at the outer shell and provided With a conical-shaped cap that iits over the upper end of the inner core,'means carried by said funnel for positioning a piece of reinforcing woven wire between the outer shell and core, and abar arranged outside of the outer shelll and provided with pins that project inwardly through openings in the outer shell; substantially as described. v

8. VAin apparatus for the purpose described, comprising an outer shell consisting of a piece of sheet metal bent to iorm a tapered tube, flanges on said outer shell, means for clamping said Alanges together, a base plate provided with a ring-shaped portion that embraces the lower end of said outer shell, a collapsible inner core consisting oi a piece of sheet metal bent to form a tapered tube and rovided on-its longitudinal edgeswith'inter-g ocking flanges, a tapered expanding meinber extending through said core, a funnel artlie upper end of said outer shell and provided with a flange that fits inside of said shell, brackets inside oi' said funnel, a ringlconnected to said brackets and provided wit a conical-shaped. cap that closes the upper end of the inner core, said brackets having notches which receive the upper edffe of a of woven wire that is adapted to e ar- 'and a bar extending longitudinally of the outer shell and provided with pins that project inwardly through openings in said shell; substantially as described.

9. An apparatus i'or the purpose described, provided with means llor holding a hollow round tapered fence-post, means for forming openings in said post during the operation of molding same for receiving fence wire connecting devices provided at their inner ends with eyes, and means adapted to be arranged inside ol" said post l'or temporarily holding said devices iii a certain position while a rod is inserted through the eyes thereoic substantially as described.

In testimony whereoil hereunto aflix my t signature in the presence oi two witnesses, this third day ol' December 1908.

JAMES ll". MlLLAlll.' Witnesses WELLS L. Ciiuiicii, Geenen BAxnwnLL. 

